The aim of this document is to provide authors, Cochrane Review Groups (CRGs) and other Cochrane Entities with answers to some frequently asked questions about systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy and the Cochrane Collaboration.
If you have any more questions or suggestions for questions for this page send an email with 'FAQ' in the subject line to DTA-ET@contacts.bham.ac.uk
FAQ
3. How do we develop our topic list and look for "areas of common interest"?
4. I would like to prepare a Cochrane diagnostic test accuracy review. What should I do?
5. How do I find and contact the relevant CRG?
6. When can I start writing my protocol?
7. Is there a good search filter I could use?
8. What quality checklist should I use?
10. What is the Diagnostic Test Accuracy Editorial Team?
1. We do not want to register reviews of diagnostic test accuracy, it is not a priority for us now and we haven't time, what should we do?
We are aware that CRGs manage large workloads and it would be important for CRGs to plan when would be appropriate to start registering systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy in order to ensure that they are in the best position to support authors. CRGs can write to any authors who contact them with a request to register a review of diagnostic test accuracy to explain their decision regarding systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy. It may be helpful to the author to include a date when this decision may be revisited.
2. We have an author who wants to register a systematic review of diagnostic test accuracy, what should we do?
We recommend that members of the Editorial team of the review group are familiar with the DTA Editorial process and editorial resources available on this website. We also recommend review groups appoint a DTA Editor who is familiar with DTA methods as detailed in the Cochrane Handbook for DTA reviews and related resources.
3. How do we develop our topic list and look for "areas of common interest"?
At present we think that CRGs will not have to develop a separate topic list and it may be more useful for CRGs to scope out good clinical questions regarding diagnosis and comparison of appropriate diagnostic tests and prioritisation of appropriate tests.
At present we are not certain how many areas of common interest will be identified. Therefore we would like CRGs to consider other review groups when registering titles. Studies of diagnostic test accuracy usually focus on one condition to be identified, which will usually be within the scope of one review group. Registered titles will be circulated to all review groups in the same way the systematic reviews of interventions are circulated to all groups. We look forward to developing guidance on this as more reviews are registered.
4. I would like to prepare a Cochrane diagnostic test accuracy review. What should I do?
Cochrane invites prospective authors to propose new Cochrane Reviews by submitting a proposal in Editorial Manager. Please see the Cochrane Library information for authors for further details.
We recommend that the author team includes members with the following expertise:
- Content expertise of the condition e.g. a clinician familiar with the target condition,
- Content expertise of the test e.g. a specialist with experience in performing the index and reference test,
- Information specialist,
- Experience of preparing a systematic review,
- Expertise of the methodology of diagnostic research (i.e. someone with expertise in the quality assessment using QUADAS-2, knowledge of diagnostic research and diagnostic research synthesis),
- Statistical expertise i.e. statistician with knowledge of diagnostic research and diagnostic research synthesis.
The CRG will assess each request to register a DTA review. The CRG may consider
- If the review falls into their scope
- If the review questions is suitable for a Cochrane review
- If the review question is a priority for their group
- The expertise of the review team (See above)
- Availability of training and Handbook materials for themselves and for authors.
5. How do I find and contact the relevant CRG?
There are 50 or so Cochrane review groups (CRGs) covering the whole of medical health care. Visit the Cochrane Collaboration CRG page to find the CRG that appears to be most relevant to your chosen review.
6. When can I start writing my protocol?
Please contact your CRG for advice on when to write your protocol. You can prepare your protocol after your proposed title for a systematic review has been accepted, the title has been formally registered and your CRG has created a template for the review and made this available to you.
Please use the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy to guide you in the preparation of your protocol, specifically Chapter 4: ‘Guide to the contents of a Cochrane protocol for Diagnostic Test Accuracy’. The Handbook is in development and published chapters are available on our website handbook page.
All systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy must be prepared using RevMan. Please do not start to prepare your review until you have registered your title and received a review template from your CRG.
7. Is there a good search filter I could use?
We advise you not to use search filters at all as evidence suggests that you may miss relevant studies. The reason for this is that terms for identifying studies examining the accuracy of diagnostic tests are not well indexed in the electronic bibliographic databases, such as MEDLINE. More details are available in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy. This handbook is available from our website handbook page.
For advice on searching please contact the Trials Search Coordinator (TSC) of your CRG.
8. What quality checklist should I use?
We require that you to use the QUADAS-2 checklist and tailor it as necessary to your review question. Review authors are advised to visit the QUADAS website http://www.bris.ac.uk/quadas for guidance on the use of the checklist
QUADAS-2 is currently under revision and a checklist for comparative DTA studies (QUADAS-C) is in development. When completed these updates will be reflected in the forthcoming Cochrane DTA handbook and links to relevant materials available via this webpage.
9. What is the difference between Cochrane systematic reviews of interventions and Cochrane systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy?
Systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy are very different from intervention reviews. Accordingly we recommend that CRG staff familiarise themselves with diagnostic research and systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy.
The differences between these two categories of review include the requirement that all protocols and reviews are to be authorised for publication by the DTA Editorial Team and the Cochrane Review Group.
10. What is the Diagnostic Test Accuracy Editorial Team?
The Steering Group of the Cochrane Collaboration convened the DTA editorial team in 2008. It comprises experts in all methodological aspects of preparing systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy. The role of the DTA editorial Team is to manage the quality of DTA reviews in The Cochrane Library through the peer review of these reviews. It will provide peer review comments of the methodology for all protocols and full text systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy.
All Cochrane diagnostic test accuracy reviews, and protocols for reviews, will need to be approved for sign off by the DTA Editorial Team before they can be published on the Cochrane Library. The sign off for publication will also require the Cochrane review group to approve the protocol or review for publication. This is a 'dual' sign off procedure.
Details of the editorial team can be found on our Editorial Team webpage.